Divine Office Office of Readings

Lord, open my lips. — And my mouth will proclaim your praise. Ant. Christ is born for us; come, let us adore him. Psalm 95 Come, let us sing to the Lord and shout with joy to the Rock who saves us. Let us approach him with praise and thanksgiving and sing joyful songs to the Lord. Ant. Christ is born for us; come, let us adore him. The Lord is God, the mighty God, the great king over all the gods. He holds in his hands the depths of the earth and the highest mountains as well He made the sea; it belongs to him, the dry land, too, for it was formed by his hands. Ant. Christ is born for us; come, let us adore him. Come, then, let us bow down and worship, bending the knee before the Lord, our maker, For he is our God and we are his people, the flock he shepherds. Ant. Christ is born for us; come, let us adore him. Today, listen to the voice of the Lord: Do not grow stubborn, as your fathers did in the wilderness, when at Meriba and Massah they challenged me and provoked me, Although they had seen all of my works. Ant. Christ is born for us; come, let us adore him. Forty years I endured that generation. I said, “They are a people whose hearts go astray and they do not know my ways.” So I swore in my anger, “They shall not enter into my rest.” Ant. Christ is born for us; come, let us adore him. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen. Ant. Christ is born for us; come, let us adore him.

Ribbon Placement: Liturgy of the Hours Vol. I: Ordinary: 649 Proper of Seasons: 518 Psalter: Wednesday, Week I, 732 Christian Prayer: Does not contain Office of Readings. Office of Readings for Wednesday before Epiphany God, come to my assistance. — Lord, make haste to help me. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: — as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen. Alleluia. HYMN Bethlehem, of noblest cities none can once with thee compare; thou alone the Lord from heaven didst for us incarnate bear. Fairer than the sun at morning was the star that told his birth; to the lands their God announcing, seen in fleshly form on earth. By its lambent beauty guided see the eastern kings appear; see them bend, their gifts to offer, gifts of incense, gold and myrrh. Solemn things of mystic meaning: incense doth the God disclose, gold a royal child proclaimeth, myrrh a future tomb foreshows. Holy Jesus, in thy brightness to the Gentile world displayed, with the Father and the Spirit endless praise to thee be paid. 𝄞"Bethlehem, of Noblest Cities" by Rebecca Hincke • Available for Purchase [https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08NQ2CG4X/ref=dm_ws_tlw_trk12] • Musical Score [https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/divineoffice/Bethlehem_of_Noblest_Cities.pdf] • Title: Bethlehem, Of Noblest Cities; Text: Prudentius (348-410); Tr.: Edward Caswall (1814-1878); Music: Christian Friedrich Witt, (1660-1716); Artist: Rebecca Hincke; (c) 2016 Surgeworks, Inc. • Albums that contain this Hymn: The Hymns and Chants of Divine Office, Vol. 1 PSALMODY Ant. 1 I love you, Lord; you are my strength. Psalm 18:2-30 Thanksgiving for salvation and victory At that time there was a violent earthquake (Revelation 11:13). I I love you, Lord, my strength, my rock, my fortress, my savior. My God is the rock where I take refuge; my shield, my mighty help, my stronghold. The Lord is worthy of all praise, when I call I am saved from my foes. The waves of death rose about me; the torrents of destruction assailed me; the snares of the grave entangled me; the traps of death confronted me. In my anguish I called to the Lord; I cried to my God for help. From his temple he heard my voice; my cry came to his ears. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: — as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen. Ant. I love you, Lord; you are my strength. Ant. 2 The Lord has saved me; he wanted me for his own. II Then the earth reeled and rocked; the mountains were shaken to their base: they reeled at his terrible anger. Smoke came forth from his nostrils and scorching fire from his mouth: coals were set ablaze by its heat. He lowered the heavens and came down, a black cloud under his feet. He came enthroned on the cherubim, he flew on the wings of the wind. He made the darkness his covering, the dark waters of the clouds, his tent. A brightness shone out before him with hailstones and flashes of fire. The Lord thundered in the heavens; The Most High let his voice be heard. He shot his arrows, scattered the foe, flashed his lightnings and put them to flight. The bed of the ocean was revealed; the foundations of the world were laid bare at the thunder of your threat, O Lord, at the blast of the breath of your anger. From on high he reached down and seized me; he drew me forth from the mighty waters. he snatched me from my powerful foe, from my enemies whose strength I could not match. They assailed me in the day of my misfortune, but the Lord was my support. He brought me forth into freedom, he saved me because he loved me. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: — as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen. Ant. The Lord has saved me; he wanted me for his own. Ant. 3 Lord, kindle a light for my guidance and scatter my darkness. III He rewarded me because I was just, repaid me, for my hands were clean, for I have kept the way of the Lord, and have not fallen away from my God. For his judgments are all before me: I have never neglected his commands. I have always been upright before him; I have kept myself from guilt. He repaid me because I was just and my hands were clean in his eyes. You are loving with those who love you: you show yourself perfect with the perfect. With the sincere you show yourself sincere, but the cunning you outdo in cunning. For you save a humble people but humble the eyes that are proud. You, O Lord, are my lamp, my God who lightens my darkness. With you I can break through any barrier, with my God I can scale any wall. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: — as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen. Psalm-prayer Lord God, our strength and salvation, put in us the flame of your love and make our love for you grow to a perfect love which reaches to our neighbor. Ant. Lord, kindle a light for my guidance and scatter my darkness. Sacred Silence (indicated by a bell) – a moment to reflect and receive in our hearts the full resonance of the voice of the Holy Spirit and to unite our personal prayer more closely with the word of God and public voice of the Church. In Christ was life. — And that life was light of mankind. READINGS First reading From the letter to the Colossians 3:17-4:1 The life of the Christian family Whatever you do, whether in speech or in action, do it in the name of the Lord Jesus. Give thanks to God the Father through him. You who are wives, be submissive to your husbands. This is your duty in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives. Avoid any bitterness toward them. You children, obey your parents in everything as the acceptable way in the Lord. And fathers, do not nag your children lest they lose heart. To slaves I say, obey your human masters perfectly, not with the purpose of attracting attention and pleasing men but in all sincerity and out of reverence for the Lord. Whatever you do, work at it with your whole being. Do it for the Lord rather for men, since you know full well you will receive an inheritance from him as your reward. Be slaves of Christ the Lord. Whoever acts unjustly will be repaid for the wrong he has done. No favoritism will be shown. You slaveowners, deal justly and fairly with your slaves, realizing that you too have a master in heaven. RESPONSORY Colossian 3:17 Whatever you do in word and deed, — do all in the name of the Lord Jesus. Give thanks to our God and Father through his Son. — Do all in the name of the Lord Jesus. Second reading From the Five Hundred Chapters by Saint Maximus the Confessor, abbot A mystery ever new The Word of God, born once in the flesh (such is his kindness and his goodness), is always willing to be born spiritually in those who desire him. In them he is born as an infant as he fashions himself in them by means of their virtues. He reveals himself to the extent that he knows someone is capable of receiving him. He diminishes the revelation of his glory not out of selfishness but because he recognizes the capacity and resources of those who desire to see him. Yet, in the transcendence of mystery, he always remains invisible to all. For this reason the apostle Paul, reflecting on the power of the mystery, said: Jesus Christ, yesterday and today: he remains the same for ever. For he understood the mystery as ever new, never growing old through our understanding of it. Christ is God, for he had given all things their being out of nothing. Yet he is born as man by taking to himself our nature, flesh endowed with intelligent spirit. A star glitters by day in the East and leads the wise men to the place where the incarnate Word lies, to show that the Word, contained in the Law and the Prophets, surpasses in a mystical way knowledge derived from the senses, and to lead the Gentiles to the full light of knowledge. For surely the word of the Law and the Prophets when it is understood with faith is like a star which leads those who are called by the power of grace in accordance with his decree to recognize the Word incarnate. Here is the reason why God became a perfect man, changing nothing of human nature, except to take away sin (which was never natural anyway). His flesh was set before that voracious, gaping dragon as bait to provoke him: flesh that would be deadly for the dragon, for it would utterly destroy him by the power of the Godhead hidden within it. For human nature, however, his flesh was to be a remedy since the power of the Godhead in it would restore human nature to its original grace. Just as the devil had poisoned the tree of knowledge and spoiled our nature by its taste, so too, in presuming to devour the Lord’s flesh he himself is corrupted and is completely destroyed by the power of the Godhead hidden in it. The great mystery of the divine incarnation remains a mystery for ever. How can the Word made flesh be essentially the same person that is wholly with the Father? How can he who is by nature God become by nature wholly man without lacking either nature, neither the divine by which he is God nor the human by which he became man? Faith alone grasps these mysteries. Faith alone is truly the substance and foundation of all that exceeds knowledge and understanding. RESPONSORY John 1:14, 1 The Word was made flesh and lived among us, — We have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s only Son, full of grace and truth. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. — We have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s only Son, full of grace and truth. CONCLUDING PRAYER Grant us, almighty God, that the bringer of your salvation, who for the world’s redemption came forth with newness of heavenly light, may dawn afresh in our hearts and bring us constant renewal. Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. — Amen. ACCLAMATION (at least in the communal celebration) Let us praise the Lord. — And give him thanks.

Lord, open my lips. — And my mouth will proclaim your praise. Ant. Christ is born for us; come, let us adore him. Psalm 95 Come, let us sing to the Lord and shout with joy to the Rock who saves us. Let us approach him with praise and thanksgiving and sing joyful songs to the Lord. Ant. Christ is born for us; come, let us adore him. The Lord is God, the mighty God, the great king over all the gods. He holds in his hands the depths of the earth and the highest mountains as well He made the sea; it belongs to him, the dry land, too, for it was formed by his hands. Ant. Christ is born for us; come, let us adore him. Come, then, let us bow down and worship, bending the knee before the Lord, our maker, For he is our God and we are his people, the flock he shepherds. Ant. Christ is born for us; come, let us adore him. Today, listen to the voice of the Lord: Do not grow stubborn, as your fathers did in the wilderness, when at Meriba and Massah they challenged me and provoked me, Although they had seen all of my works. Ant. Christ is born for us; come, let us adore him. Forty years I endured that generation. I said, “They are a people whose hearts go astray and they do not know my ways.” So I swore in my anger, “They shall not enter into my rest.” Ant. Christ is born for us; come, let us adore him. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen. Ant. Christ is born for us; come, let us adore him.

Lord, open my lips. — And my mouth will proclaim your praise. Ant. Christ is born for us; come, let us adore him. Psalm 95 Come, let us sing to the Lord and shout with joy to the Rock who saves us. Let us approach him with praise and thanksgiving and sing joyful songs to the Lord. Ant. Christ is born for us; come, let us adore him. The Lord is God, the mighty God, the great king over all the gods. He holds in his hands the depths of the earth and the highest mountains as well He made the sea; it belongs to him, the dry land, too, for it was formed by his hands. Ant. Christ is born for us; come, let us adore him. Come, then, let us bow down and worship, bending the knee before the Lord, our maker, For he is our God and we are his people, the flock he shepherds. Ant. Christ is born for us; come, let us adore him. Today, listen to the voice of the Lord: Do not grow stubborn, as your fathers did in the wilderness, when at Meriba and Massah they challenged me and provoked me, Although they had seen all of my works. Ant. Christ is born for us; come, let us adore him. Forty years I endured that generation. I said, “They are a people whose hearts go astray and they do not know my ways.” So I swore in my anger, “They shall not enter into my rest.” Ant. Christ is born for us; come, let us adore him. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen. Ant. Christ is born for us; come, let us adore him.

Ribbon Placement: Liturgy of the Hours Vol. I: Ordinary: 649 Psalter: Friday, Week I, 764 Proper of Seasons: 533 (first reading) Sunday of the Baptism of the Lord, 634 (second reading) Christian Prayer: Does not contain Office of Readings. Office of Readings for Friday before Epiphany God, come to my assistance. — Lord, make haste to help me. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: — as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen. Alleluia. HYMN Bethlehem, of noblest cities none can once with thee compare; thou alone the Lord from heaven didst for us incarnate bear. Fairer than the sun at morning was the star that told his birth; to the lands their God announcing, seen in fleshly form on earth. By its lambent beauty guided see the eastern kings appear; see them bend, their gifts to offer, gifts of incense, gold and myrrh. Solemn things of mystic meaning: incense doth the God disclose, gold a royal child proclaimeth, myrrh a future tomb foreshows. Holy Jesus, in thy brightness to the Gentile world displayed, with the Father and the Spirit endless praise to thee be paid. 𝄞"Bethlehem, of Noblest Cities" by Rebecca Hincke • Available for Purchase [https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08NQ2CG4X/ref=dm_ws_tlw_trk12] • Musical Score [https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/divineoffice/Bethlehem_of_Noblest_Cities.pdf] • Title: Bethlehem, Of Noblest Cities; Text: Prudentius (348-410); Tr.: Edward Caswall (1814-1878); Music: Christian Friedrich Witt, (1660-1716); Artist: Rebecca Hincke; (c) 2016 Surgeworks, Inc. • Albums that contain this Hymn: The Hymns and Chants of Divine Office, Vol. 1 PSALMODY Ant. 1 Rise up Lord, and come to my aid. Psalm 35 The Lord as Savior in time of persecution They came together… and laid their plans to capture Jesus by treachery and put him to death (Matthew 26:3-4) I O Lord, plead my cause against my foes; fight those who fight me. Take up your buckler and shield; arise to help me. O Lord, say to my soul: “I am your salvation.” But my soul shall be joyful in the Lord and rejoice in his salvation. My whole being will say: “Lord, who is like you? who rescue the weak from the strong and the poor from the oppressor?” Lying witnesses arise and accuse me unjustly. They repay me evil for good; my soul is forlorn. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: — as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen. Ant. Rise up Lord, and come to my aid. Ant. 2 All powerful Lord, stand by me and defend me. II When they were sick I went into mourning, afflicted with fasting. My prayer was ever on my lips, as for a brother, a friend. I went as though mourning a mother, bowed down with grief. Now that I am in trouble they gather, they gather and mock me. They take me by surprise and strike me and tear me to pieces. They provoke me with mockery on mockery and gnash their teeth. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: — as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen. Ant. All powerful Lord, stand by me and defend me. Ant. 3 My tongue will speak of your goodness all the day long. III O Lord, how long will you look on? Come to my rescue! Save my life from these raging beasts, my soul from these lions. I will thank you in the great assembly, amid the throng I will praise you. Do not let my lying foes rejoice over me. Do not let those who hate me unjustly wink eyes at each other. O Lord, you have seen, do not be silent, do not stand afar off! Awake, stir to my defense, to my cause, O God! Let there be joy for those who love my cause. Let them say without end: “Great is the Lord who delights in the peace of his servant.” Then my tongue shall speak of your justice, and all day long of your praise. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: — as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen. Psalm-prayer Lord, you rescue the poor from their oppressors, and you rose to the aid of your beloved Son against those who unjustly sought his life. Look on your Church as we journey to you, that the poor and weak may recognize the help you provide and proclaim your saving acts. Ant. My tongue will speak of your goodness all the day long. Sacred Silence (indicated by a bell) A moment to reflect and receive in our hearts the full resonance of the voice of the Holy Spirit and to unite our personal prayer more closely with the word of God and public voice of the Church. Sing to the Lord and bless his name. — Proclaim his saving love day after day. READINGS First reading From the book of the prophet Isaiah 42:1-8 The gentle servant of God Here is my servant whom I uphold, my chosen one with whom I am pleased, Upon whom I have put my spirit; he shall bring forth justice to the nations, Not crying out, not shouting, not making his voice heard in the street. A bruised reed he shall not break, and a smoldering wick he shall not quench, Until he establishes justice on the earth; the coastlands will wait for his teaching. Thus says God, the Lord, who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spreads out the earth with its crops, Who gives breath to its people and spirit to those who walk on it: I, the Lord, have called you for the victory of justice, I have grasped you by the hand; I formed you, and set you as a covenant of the people, a light for the nations, To open the eyes of the blind, to bring out prisoners from confinement, and from the dungeon, those who live in darkness. I am the Lord, this is my name; my glory I give to no other, nor my praise to idols. RESPONSORY Matthew 12:18, 21 (Isaiah 42:1) This is my servant whom I have chosen; my beloved in whom I take delight. — All nations will hope in his name. My Spirit will rest upon him, and he will teach the nations the meaning of justice. — All nations will hope in his name. Second reading From a Sermon by Saint Gregory of Nazianzus, bishop The baptism of Christ Christ is bathed in light; let us also be bathed in light. Christ is baptized; let us also go down with him, and rise with him. John is baptizing when Jesus draws near. Perhaps he comes to sanctify his baptizer; certainly he comes to bury sinful humanity in the waters. He comes to sanctify the Jordan for our sake and in readiness for us; he who is spirit and flesh comes to begin a new creation through the Spirit and water. The Baptist protests; Jesus insists. Then John says: I ought to be baptized by you. He is the lamp in the presence of the sun, the voice in the presence of the Word, the friend in the presence of the Bridegroom, the greatest of all born of woman in the presence of the firstborn of all creation, the one who leapt in his mother’s womb in the presence of him who was adored in the womb, the forerunner and future forerunner in the presence of him who has already come and is to come again. I ought to be baptized by you; we should also add: and for you, for John is to be baptized in blood, washed clean like Peter, not only by the washing of his feet. Jesus rises from the waters; the world rises with him. The heavens like Paradise with its flaming sword, closed by Adam for himself and his descendants, are rent open. The Spirit comes to him as to an equal, bearing witness to his Godhead. A voice bears witness to him from heaven, his place of origin. The Spirit descends in bodily form like the dove that so long ago announced the ending of the flood and so gives honor to the body that is one with God. Today let us do honor to Christ’s baptism and celebrate this feast in holiness. Be cleansed entirely and continue to be cleansed. Nothing gives such pleasure to God as the conversion and salvation of men, for whom his every word and every revelation exist. He wants you to become a living force for all mankind, lights shining in the world. You are to be radiant lights as you stand beside Christ, the great light, bathed in the glory of him who is the light of heaven. You are to enjoy more and more the pure and dazzling light of the Trinity, as now you have received — though not in its fullness — a ray of its splendor, proceeding from the one God, in Christ Jesus our Lord, to whom be glory and power for ever and ever. Amen. RESPONSORY Psalm 114:5 Today the heavens opened and the waters of the sea became sweet and fragrant; the earth rejoiced, the mountains and hills exulted, — because Christ was baptized by John in the Jordan. What has happened that the sea has been put to flight, and the Jordan has turned back upon itself? — Because Christ was baptized by John in the Jordan. CONCLUDING PRAYER Cast your kindly light upon your faithful, Lord, we pray, and with the splendor of your glory set their hearts ever aflame, that they may never cease to acknowledge their Savior and may truly hold fast to him. Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. — Amen. ACCLAMATION (at least in the communal celebration) Let us praise the Lord. — And give him thanks.